Rice routs Memphis 10-1 to advance to C-USA title game

Updated 10:17 pm, Saturday, May 25, 2013

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Rice's Leon Byrd (1) and teammates celebrate their 10-1 victory over the Memphis Tigers during the Conference USA baseball tournament, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston. The Owls will play Southern Mississippi for the championship, Sunday at 1:00.

Rice's Leon Byrd (1) and teammates celebrate their 10-1 victory over the Memphis Tigers during the Conference USA baseball tournament, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston. The Owls will play

Rice third baseman Shane Hoelscher blows a bubble with chewing gum during the ninth inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Rice third baseman Shane Hoelscher blows a bubble with chewing gum during the ninth inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Rice's Christian Stringer (center) celebrates scoring the Owls' second run of the game during the first inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Rice's Christian Stringer (center) celebrates scoring the Owls' second run of the game during the first inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park

Rice's Christian Stringer (5) celebrates a run scored with Ford Stainback during the second inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Rice's Christian Stringer (5) celebrates a run scored with Ford Stainback during the second inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Rice's Christian Stringer (center) celebrates scoring the Owls' second run of the game during the first inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Rice's Christian Stringer (center) celebrates scoring the Owls' second run of the game during the first inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park

Rice's Christian Stringer (5) celebrates a run scored with teammates Leon Byrd (1) and Kirby Taylor during the second inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Rice's Christian Stringer (5) celebrates a run scored with teammates Leon Byrd (1) and Kirby Taylor during the second inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at

Rice's John Simms delivers a pitch during the first inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Rice's John Simms delivers a pitch during the first inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Rice's Michael Aquino (15) celebrates scoring the Owls' first run of the game with Keenan Cook (17) and Christian Stringer during the first inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Rice's Michael Aquino (15) celebrates scoring the Owls' first run of the game with Keenan Cook (17) and Christian Stringer during the first inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Memphis,

Memphis pitcher Erik Schoenrock (13) walks off the mound after being replaced after giving up six earned runs in 1.2 innings during the second inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Rice, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Memphis pitcher Erik Schoenrock (13) walks off the mound after being replaced after giving up six earned runs in 1.2 innings during the second inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament against Rice,

Rice's Christian Stringer turns a double play past Memphis' Tucker Tubbs during the second inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Rice's Christian Stringer turns a double play past Memphis' Tucker Tubbs during the second inning of the Conference USA baseball tournament, Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Reckling Park in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Rice routs Memphis 10-1 to advance to C-USA title game

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Same Memphis pitcher - much different Rice offense.

The Owls chased Erik Schoenrock, who held them to one unearned run in a complete-game outing two weeks ago, in the second inning Saturday at Reckling Park, scoring six early runs in a 10-1 rout.

The win sends Rice to the Conference USA championship game against Southern Miss at 1 p.m. Sunday.

"We had a real good game," Rice coach Wayne Graham said. "I hope we have one more (Sunday)."

It was good all the way around - but offense set the tone.

Hits aplenty

The Owls scored at least one run in the first five innings and took a 10-1 lead into the sixth. They plated four runs in the second, including Michael Aquino's two-run triple, ending Schoenrock's day.

He allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks in 12⁄3 innings, falling to 7-4.

"That guy got us pretty good last game, and we knew we'd sure have to battle," said Shane Hoelscher, who hit a two-run double in the first. "That was my approach going into it, and that's what I did."

Every Owl but Geoff Perrott had scored by the fifth. Hoelscher and Christian Stringer each started 3-for-3, and Skyler Ewing supplied a walk, sacrifice bunt and sac fly in his first three plate appearances.

"A few balls found holes early, and a couple of plays that could have been made early didn't get made," said Memphis coach Daron Schoenrock, who trotted out seven different pitchers Saturday. "And then Rice did a phenomenal job of putting good at-bats together after that."

Rice finished with 14 hits, with four players supplying at least two. Hoelscher was 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

"What we've been trying to get all year is nine guys working hard at the plate, and they came out working hard," Graham said. "Even our outs were pretty hard outs ... so they did a great job with the bats - off the conference pitcher of the year."

They worked hard in the field, too.

Shortstop Ford Stainback helped turn four double plays, and he barehanded a ball off Rice starter John Simms in the fourth inning to get Tucker Tubbs at first base for his most impressive out.

"Stainback was immaculate (Saturday)," Graham said.

Simms saves bullpen

Simms (8-3) went 81⁄3 innings for the win. He held Memphis (35-24) to one run on four hits with six strikeouts. Rice pitchers have combined to allow only three runs (all earned) in their last 53 innings.

Holt McNair and Kevin McCanna split the final two outs.

Blake Fox (6-0, 2.78 ERA) is expected to start for the Owls (40-17) against Southern Miss.

"Your main goal is to get to the championship game," Simms said.

"Once you get there, that's icing on the cake if you win. So we accomplished that, and hopefully I saved some of our arms down there in the bullpen, and that will help out (Sunday)."